Overview & Reviews

Associated more with cars driven by your grandmother or a New York chauffeur, Lincoln has struggled in recent years to earn a more prestigious image. One of the most important cars to establishing a new course is the Lincoln MKZ, the brand's representative in the ultra-competitive entry-level luxury sedan category.

The first-generation MKZ wasn't especially successful in its mission, as there was little differentiation between the MKZ and the Ford Fusion upon which it was based. However, the second-generation MKZ represents another chance. Though still mechanically based on the Fusion, there are substantially more visual and mechanical delineations between the two. Unlike before, you'd be hard-pressed to tell they're related. More importantly, though, the new Lincoln MKZ is a far more appealing luxury sedan that can legitimately be considered alongside established players.

Current Lincoln MKZ
The Lincoln MKZ is completely redesigned for 2013. It's a car that's going to be hard to miss on the road, as the exterior features a boldly styled rear end and a new look for the Lincoln corporate grille. The cabin is also now suitably upscale for this class of car and adapts Lincoln/Ford's latest electronics controls. Under the skin reside new engines and mechanical underpinnings similar to those in the equally new Ford Fusion.

As is the case with an increasing number of other vehicles in its class, the MKZ's standard engine is a turbocharged four-cylinder. It produces a very healthy 240 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Optional is a 3.7-liter V6 good for 300 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines feature competitive power and fuel economy for the class. They also both come standard with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive is optional. The MKZ Hybrid gets Ford's latest gasoline-electric powertrain with 188 combined hp and fuel economy in the mid-40 range.

There is no shortage of equipment, with items like adaptive suspension, keyless ignition/entry, leather upholstery, an 11-speaker sound system and the MyLincoln Touch suite of electronics interfaces gracing the standard features list. High-tech options include a lane-keeping system, a collision warning system, rear seatbelt airbags, adaptive cruise control, an automatic parallel parking system and an enormous panoramic roof that essentially retracts its glass panel atop the rear window.

There's no question that Lincoln has packed on a lot of kit for its newest MKZ. But the end result is a little disappointing. You can still get most of those high-end features on the Fusion, for instance, and for a price that's thousands of dollars cheaper. Placed in comparison with other entry-level luxury sedans, the MKZ also suffers from its finicky MyLincoln Touch electronics interface, underwhelming interior quality and more confining seating.

Overall, the MKZ has some nice qualities, and we like the effort put forth to make it more distinctive than in years past. But shoppers in search of a top entry-level luxury sedan should also take a look at other choices such as the Acura TL, Lexus ES 350 and Volvo S60 before going with this newest Lincoln.

Used Lincoln MKZ Models
The previous Lincoln MKZ was sold from 2007-'12. (Technically, the car debuted for 2006 but was called the Zephyr for that first year.) Like the current MKZ, the first-generation MKZ was mechanically similar to the Ford Fusion of its time period, but there was substantially less differentiation between the two cars. Although the Lincoln had unique front and rear ends, in profile they appeared to be carbon copies of each other. Passenger space was no different, and both felt very similar behind the wheel.

It's important to note that the MKZ received a significant refresh for 2010. Cars produced before then can be identified by their more restrained, squared-off grille. The cabin featured a retro-inspired design consisting of an upright dash, sharp angles and a large horizontal strip of wood. Unfortunately, the quality of materials was barely better than that of the Fusion, and the various buttons and knobs were no different from those found in a Ford.

Under the hood, these MKZ models came with the same 3.0-liter V6 found in the Fusion that produced 221 hp and 205 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission were standard, while all-wheel drive was an option for all but '07. That first-year MKZ was also not available with rear parking sensors or the Sync electronics interface. Stability control was also unavailable until '09, which was a glaring omission in the luxury segment.

In general we would not recommend the MKZ in these early years. We don't think the changes made for 2010 were enough to make it a compelling alternate to Audis or BMWs, even though the MKZ was indeed greatly improved.

For that 2010 update, Lincoln ditched the retro feel for a more contemporary approach. The materials were improved, the myriad buttons and knobs were now unique to Lincoln and the number of standard features increased. The exterior transformation was less significant, but it did adopt the more dramatic waterfall grille and bolder headlights inspired by other Lincoln models at the time.

Under the hood, the MKZ received a new 3.5-liter V6 that produced 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque. Once again, a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive were standard, with all-wheel drive an option. This powertrain was shared with the special Fusion Sport model, but now it at least produced sufficient power for the class.

Also new was a Sport Appearance package, which despite the name actually provided a sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels that made the MKZ surprisingly fun to drive. The ride was a bit firm, though, so most consumers will likely prefer the more comfortable standard setup that still provides fairly nimble handling.

For 2011, the MKZ Hybrid debuted. This, not surprisingly, applied the MKZ's styling and cabin to the Ford Fusion Hybrid powertrain. A combination of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, electric motor and battery pack produced a total of 191 hp and returned 39 mpg combined. That made it the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan of the time.

In total, a used Lincoln MKZ produced between 2010 and 2012 will get you a lot of equipment for the money and a car that's surprisingly fun to drive despite the reputation of its brand. However, most other luxury sedans are still more desirable overall, and a loaded Ford Fusion will bring with it much of the same attributes for even less money.

User Reviews:

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  MKZ Hybrid is an amazing car - 2015 Lincoln MKZ
  By aranala - March 13 - 7:01 pm

  I had not owned an American car in 40 years, since I purchased a Buick Skylark, used. In the intervening years I have owned several Volvos, MBs, BMWs, and AlfaRomeos, so I purchased this Lincoln with great hesitation. I chose it because I wanted a mid size confortable car with great mileage. The MKZ, after 900 miles is proving to be a very lucky or wise decision. The MKZ is silent even at 90 MPH on the Florida Turnpike, steering is responsive, tight, ride is like you want it to be, comfy or sporty, the seats are like first class in Lufthansa and it has the quietness of a concert hall to enjoy the jazz coming out of the HD system. And I´m getting 43 MPG on the second tank. Amazing.

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  What more do you really need - 2011 Lincoln MKZ
  By penpat2020 - March 7 - 2:01 pm

  I bought this 2011 Lincoln MKZ used with just over 23,000 miles for under $20k! Car has everything you could want in a luxury car, leather, 10 speaker surround sound, rear-back up, navigation with Sync and bluetooth, chrome, etc. For a car of similar size and quality in its class you would easily be paying $7-12k more. Value is unbeatable. As for drive quality, I have test-drove an A4, TL, C300, and 328i as well as previously owned a Cadillac CTS. They all had their quirks and pros and cons. This car stands up to all of them. It may not be the best of the best, but the value in the package is unbeatable.

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  2014 Lincoln MKZ 3.7L AWD - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By TrevorP - February 28 - 4:47 pm

  This is my second winter owning the car. Last winter I had few issues with the power decklid not opening and closing automatically. It would still pop the trunk but my auto closing switches didnt work so i had to open and close it manually. No big deal. This winter, it wont even pop the trunk. I am locked out of the trunk of my vehicle unless I fold down the back seats and pull the emergency release. Then I had a dead battery....Once I got the vehicle started, it displayed several warnings (Service TPS, hill start not available, Service steering system) but the car was running. I realized i had a problem when I was unable to turn the steering wheel. If you live in cold climates, this is a terrible car. Everything is electric. Other than this issue, its a great car to spend time in and drive. I absolutely love it during the summer when everything works.

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  my mkz - 2016 Lincoln MKZ
  By stan - February 17 - 1:58 am

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  Lots for Less - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By TW - February 4 - 4:33 pm

  Car offers just about every option in the book for a reasonable price. The SYNC system is outstanding and provides the bluetooth capability some reviewers were asking for. On the other hand there are a lot of things that say Ford/Mercury and not Lincoln. The floor mats define cheap. The seats are not comfortable for long periods. The center console is too far rearward to rest elbow when driving. Transmission sometimes gives very sudden/harsh down shifts. And worst of all, there is a very annoying powertrain vibration/resonance at 2000 rpm that produces both an audible noise and tactile feel in steering wheel/gas pedal.

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  L Is for Lemon not Lincoln - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By James - January 18 - 12:30 am

  I bought this car brand new, ive had too many problems with it. Let me start with the small things, I needed new weather stripping on all my Windows about 500 miles in, then I started to hear howling noises from the car, ive had 2 new fuel pumps and its still howling, a light nudge actually made the tansmission shifter knob break off, door panels look loose, and it Burns oil too quickly, I filed a lemon law suit in March and bought a new Cadillac cts in April, so far so good with that.

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  Impressed - 2010 Lincoln MKZ
  By MKZ Driver - January 16 - 8:36 am

  What a great car. Im up to 1300 miles now, and I have to say, this is really much better than any other car Ive driven, let alone owned. I test drove several CTSs, but this car blows them away with its smoothness, quiet, comfort, and power. I really dont understand why this car isnt better recognized.

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  A Lincoln For All To Enjoy - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By One Happy Owner - January 13 - 12:23 am

  This is a very fun car to drive. The AWD system really helps out when taking corners or taking off the line. The dashboard is nice a bright at night and the controls are easy to use. The 6 speed shifts very smoothly and never misses a beat. I really love the 600 watt THXII sound system. Every tone is nice and clear. The seats are more than comfortable for long trips. The sync system is simply flawless. The heated and cooled seats are one of the best features on this car. The engine has a hard time getting going off the line but the power really kicks in fast. So far Im getting about 18 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the freeway at 80mph. This car really holds its own and you would enjoy it.

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  2nd American Car in 38 Years - 2010 Lincoln MKZ
  By Bob H - January 11 - 11:56 pm

  After 35 years of buying Mercedes, BMWs, Jags etc, I wanted to buy American in 07. My thoughts of the 07 mkz after 3 yrs: /no service problems whatsoever as compared to multiple problems with above mentioned cars /euro cars needed tires after 23-25k miles. got 45k+ in MKZ /no ugly, hard to clean BRAKE DUST on wheels /REGULAR gas! /ride not as smooth as cars mentioned /seats not as comfortable /not as much fun to drive NOW, my initial thoughts on the 2010: /seats more comfortable /piping around seats have TOO MUCH CONTRAST and detract from look, except for gray leather where piping almost matches /smoother ride & more fun to drive /much closer to euro cars above! /SAVED $

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  A true boulevard cruiser - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By xeroblu - January 6 - 4:51 pm

  Love this car, but there are some things that could use improvement. First off this is a car you buy because you love the way it looks period. Its not fast and its not suppose to be, if your looking for performance try the non hybrid ecoboost or buy a German brand. I love the Germans, Ive owned an Audi, two BMWs and a Mercedes and all were fantastic cars. This definitely is different, its uniquely American in that it has more road feel than your typical Japanese luxury car will have however not as much as the Germans. Id say its nicely in the middle. Personally the styling on the top tier trim level MKz beats the pants off any Lexus ES which is its main compeditor.